Rock Climbing --- 3/13/2010 - 4/4/2010 --- Moab, Indian Creek, Zion National Park

Three weeks in Utah!

Mustaches, Mohawks and Muttonchops in Moab

aka Southwest Shutdown

3/13  Josh, Guy, Keith and I head out for our scouting week.  23.5 hours of travel from Ithaca to Moab.  Joy.

3/14  Rain all day.  We check out Medieval Chamber canyon.  Because we don't have two vehicles to run shuttle, Josh and I turn around at the first rappel.  We meet Guy and Keith at the end of the trail.

3/15  We cram four rental bikes into the back of our minivan and head to the Slickrock Trail.  It is a blast... even if I have to walk my bike half the time.  On this trail, we meet a contender for the Worst Parent In The World award.  Above a steep drop very close to the trailhead, a teenage girl (on a walmart bike with no suspension) says, "I don't want to do this without a helmet."  Her Dad replies, "Get down here now.  You're embarrassing me."  What.  An.  Asshole.

Obviously, "you're embarrassing me" becomes our catch phrase for the remainder of the trip.

Finishing the Slickrock Trail, we load our bikes and drive to Klondike Bluffs at the west access to Arches NP.  Here we bike a very muddy road and some very muddy trails.  Not fun, but we need to scout... Slickrock Trail is a bit too technical for us to safely take our students.  Besides, they might embarrass us.

3/16  Clear skies and dry rock.  We head to Wall Street on Potash Road.  We climb 30 Seconds Over Potash (stiff 5.8), Lucy In The Sky With Potash (5.10a), Nervous in Suburbia (5.10b, sport), Steel Your Face (5.10a sport slab), and a few other climbs.  We also head down the road to see petroglyphs and dinosaur prints.

3/17 Castleton and Ancient Art in a day!  That's two of the 50 Classics in North America.  Big day!  It goes something like this:

  • 5:00am  Wake
  • 5:35am  Hiking
  • 6:30am  At the base of Castleton
  • 7:30am  Guy and I start Kor-Ingalls (5.9+) on Castleton just as the sun hits the rock.  On p1, I lead the miserable 5.8 squeeze chimney at the bottom.  This can apparently be avoided by moving right.  The 5.4 chimney above is trivial.  Guy struggles through the tough cracks on p2.  Then I have the terror of leading p3.  Basically, I stop about 15' above the last bolt and wait for a toprope from Josh and Keith (who are climbing North Chimney).  I'm not proud, but I'm not injured either.  That is hard climbing... apparently some people go all the way back into the chimney to get protection (which makes sense).  Guy leads the final pitch to the summit.
  • noon  The four of us rappel back to the base of Castleton.  Here I pass Porscha without realizing it until I see Beau tied to a rock near our packs.  I'm better at recognizing dogs than people.
  • 2:15pm  Back to the car, driving to Fisher Towers.
  • 3:00pm  At the base of Ancient Art.  We hang out for an hour while a much slower party struggles with p2.  Finally we bust up the climb.  I lead 1&3, Guy leads 2.  The four of us tag team ropes up the corkscrew and back down for efficiency.
  • 7:30pm  Done rappelling Ancient Art.
  • 8:15pm  Back at the parking lot for dinner before driving to Indian Creek.
  • 11:30pm  We set our tents near the trailhead for Way Rambo and quickly fall asleep.  A long day!

3/18  Climbing at Way Rambo.  I don't remember what everyone climbed.  Guy and I start the day on Rochambeau (5.9) and we finish the day getting shut down on Unnamed #12 (5.10).  It is a fun climb, but the guidebook doesn't mention the #6 you need at the top.

Get to see Jeanine, Joe, Vijay, Gerry, Adrian and a bunch of other ex-Cornellians who are climbing there too.  That night (after changing clothes following my mud puddle flop) we go to Bridger Jack to hang out with all of them plus Aramy who is also climbing at Indian Creek.

3/19  Torrential rain all night.  We drive back to Moab through rain and snow.  We get tent sites for the class, hang out at the library, and enjoy a nice Mexican restaurant for dinner.  I have the best veggie fajitas I've ever eaten.  We drive back to SLC and spend the night in a hotel.  Where we get to shower!

3/20  Grocery shopping, student retrieval, and back to Moab.

3/21  Students are eager to climb and everyone is up early (much to Josh's delight).  We head to Wall Street and get tons of climbing.  Again, I don't record what everyone climbs.  I start the day with a fall above the first bolt (drilled piton, actually) on Nervous in Suburbia.  Shay catches me before I hit the ground.  My first time ever falling on a student's belay.

3/22  We take the class to Way Rambo.  I climb Rochambeau, Blue Sun (awesome hand crack), and Way Nutter (offwidth).  We teach lots of lessons -- mock leading, anchor cleaning, gear placement, anchor building.  Also, I run into Morri who is climbing strong as always.  He spends some time getting worked on Way Rambo.

3/23  Cayoneering day.  Back to Medieval Chamber.  Just after we drop into the neck deep pool of water, our beautiful day turns overcast and windy.  Everyone is cold, but we enjoy the two big rappels and warm up rapidly while hiking out.  We finish the day with some bouldering at Big Bend.

3/24  Off to Donnelly Canyon.  Melissa, Colin, Roger and I spend the morning working on multipitch skills and trad lead/follow skills on The Naked and the Dead (p1, 5.8).  Everyone gets a go at Generic Crack.  After lunch, we cross the canyon to Supercrack Buttress.  I lead Twin Cracks (5.9, actually four cracks) which I really like because of the variety of climbing it offers.  Shay gets his first trad lead on this climb, and a bunch of other people get to climb it while waiting their turn on Supercrack.  Apparently we run into Steph Davis who is guiding at the cliff today.  This is very exciting for those in our group who have memorized five years worth of Climbing Magazine's Hot Flashes.

3/25  Melissa and I climb Ancient Art while everyone else goes mountain biking.  We have a leisurely day.  Melissa even leads some of pitch three.  We have already coiled our ropes before another party shows up at the base of the climb (though it seems that at least five parties will climb it today).  I set my hammock at the trailhead and we chill for four hours waiting for our ride back to camp.

3/26  Rain all night.  And some snow.  We take the class on a lovely hike through Arches National Park, then give everyone a few hours to walk around Moab.

3/27  Pack the two vans and drive back to SLC (with a stop at the Provo In 'N Out Burger for milkshakes).  We all get showers at our motel, then out to a decent Mexican restaurant for dinner.  Back to the hotel for some hot tub time.  Tammy and Bruce arrive around 10pm.

3/28  COE class is off to the airport to fly home.  I've still got another week of travel.  Tammy, Bruce and I drive to Zion National Park.  We have a room in a really nice motel by the park entrance.  Showers every night after climbing?  I could get used to climbing with Tammy!

3/29  We drive around the park, looking for some fishing for Bruce.  Around noon we head to the base of Moonlight Buttress (5.9, C1, V).  We cross the cold Virgin River and make our way to the base of the buttress.  I lead an approach pitch to the start of p1.  Going directly from the base of the buttress like I did is annoying and chossy.  Better to just walk left to the start of the climb.  Oh well.  Then I actually lead p1 which goes free at 5.8 (with a tough move at the end).  Tammy starts p2, but can't make a reach.  She lowers back to the belay and I finish the pitch.  This pitch is easy to free climb.  Most of the pitch is 5.8 with one 5.10+ move in the middle.  I end up freeing the crux by accident as I step out of my etriers.  Tammy leads p3 which is a fun bolt ladder.  Now at the rocker block, we fix two ropes and rappel 400' back to the ground.

We find tons of booty.  A locking biner, a nut, rain pants, gloves, stuff sack, socks, and haul bag parts.  Most has been dropped by parties above.  There is one party high up on the climb, hauling a bag.  As we walk off, we meet another party who just finished the climb after three days on the wall (they also hauled a bag).  We return a bunch of the booty gear which turns out to be stuff they dropped.

3/30  Awake at 5am for Moonlight!  We do the cold stream crossing in the dark and find our fixed ropes.  400' of jugging later we are on the rocker block.  I lead p4 which is an awesome pitch!  180' of 5.12+ finger locks.  I'm "climbing" the route with my feet in the etriers, but my fingers in the crack.  This allows me to top step just about every placement.  It is a fun fun pitch, but takes a long time even with the top stepping.  Tammy is spent after jugging the pitch, so I get p5 as well.  Not quite as much fun.  The flaring chimney which starts the pitch is miserable and is fairly tricky to aid/free/french free.  After the chimney, it is 100' of a shallow, right facing corner.  This isn't hard, but it is slow going because I'm only in balance when my left foot is in the etrier.  I reach the ledge at the top of p5 and wait for Tammy to jug up.  By the time she arrives it is nearly 3pm and we have concerns about finishing the climb with enough daylight.  And Tammy is pretty tired of aid climbing at this point.  Choosing to be conservative, we rappel all the way to the ground (four double rope rappels) and cross the dang stream one last time.

3/31  Rest day.  Cold and windy with rain turning to snow.  I only leave the motel room to buy some bananas and grapefruit.  Hey Emily, did I tell you about the organic grapefruit I got for $0.29 each in Zion?

4/1  The second anniversary of Alex Honnold's bold free solo of Moonlight Buttress.  We hike the Angel's Landing trail to Scout Lookout.  This is a two mile paved path up a gentle but sustained incline.  From the lookout, we take the West Rim trail to the top of Moonlight Buttress.  Here I fix a rope and rappel the top two pitches to make sure we are in the right place.  Jugging back up, we stash the ropes at the top of the climb.  Hiking back, we make a quick run up the final half mile of the Angel's Landing trail.  This would have bits of class III scrambling had the park service not chopped steps in the sandstone and installed massive chains to help the hikers along.  For climbers this trail is easy walking, but for all the tourists making a conga line to the summit, the exposure and scrambling are very exciting.  Their talk turns to "mountain climbing" and I learn the Sir Edmund Hillary died on Everest and his body is still perfectly preserved there.  I did not know that.

4/2  Awake at 6am and hiking up Angel's Landing by 6:45am (Bruce drops us at the trailhead before the mandatory shuttles are running at 7am).  Tammy and I quickly hike to the top of Moonlight Buttress.  From here, two double rope rappels gets us down to our high point from three days earlier.  Tammy starts leading p6 around 8:30am and the sun hits us soon after.  I lead p7, Tammy leads p8, and I finish the climb leading p9.  We reach the summit around 3pm (with two more booty nuts).  A total of 18 hours of climbing time over three days.  Add another dozen hours of rappelling, jugging and hiking along the way, and we feel like we have earned a milkshake.  I'm not going to claim that rappelling in to the final pitches is good style, but we did climb the entirety of Moonlight Buttress.

Two more parties are far below us on the climb when we finish.  One is aiding and hauling a bag, the other is free climbing the route.  So if someone tells you that Moonlight Buttress is solely in the domain of free climbers and to keep your dirty etriers off their climb... my experience is that most of the parties on the route are still aiding it.  Oh, BTW, the only reason it goes as a free climb at 5.12+ is because of all those nice finger locks in piton scars.  Just saying.

So if you want to climb Moonlight Buttress, here is my beta:

  • Supertopo is accurate, as you would expect.  Bring some sandals for the river crossing and a hand towel to dry your feet after.  The water was never above our knees, but your mileage may vary.  Scout during daylight for the best crossing.  Apparently it changes often.
  • Obviously, if you can free the climb, do that and climb it in a day.  If you think you might be able to free the climb, give it a try.  The gear is great and you can always french free a move or three.
  • I'm not sure why we saw three parties hauling on the route.  I guess training for bigger walls.  Hauling would be pretty easy except for p5, though we were happy not to be hauling.  If I were to do it again, I'd bring three ropes and fix all the way to the top of p4 on day one.  Then finish the climb on day two.  With two ropes, it is still possible to be successful with our strategy of fixing to the top of p3 on day one.  We just needed to move a bit faster on day two.  You need two ropes to rappel the route.  Rappelling p5 is tricky because the route overhangs enough that it is hard to reach the p4 belay.  Simulrappel so one partner can swing the other to the bolts.
  • Beta for each pitch:
    • p1 Walk way left to the start of the pitch.  Don't forget to protect the second after the hard move.  Reach up and left to get some gear before moving right.
    • p2 Free or french free this pitch.  No need to aid.  If you can free climb 5.8 you can get up this pitch (and if you can't free 5.8, you shouldn't be on Moonlight).
    • p3 Fun bolt ladder.
    • p4 Fun long pitch.  Top step every move and try to make steady progress.
    • p5 Miserable.  Make your partner lead this.  Of course, it leaves you stuck at the hanging belay.  This is the only pitch which takes cams bigger than #3, so make the second carry any big cams for all the other pitches.
    • p6 Fun and short
    • p7 Fun
    • p8 Fun and short
    • p9 Free this pitch!  Even if you have to aid a move or two, you don't want to aid this whole pitch.  Put your climbing shoes on before you start (which is a hassle at the hanging belay, but do it anyhow) and lighten your load as much as possible.
  • Note that you either get to lead the annoying pitches (p5 and p9) or you have to belay from a hanging belay.  Nobody has fun on these pitches.
  • The rack I would bring: 1 blue alien, 2 green aliens, 2 yellow aliens, 7 red aliens and/or #0.5 camalots, 4 #0.75 camalots, 2 #1 camalots, 2 #2 camalots, 1 #3 camalot, 1 #5 camalot, 10 draws, 1 set of nuts (medium and large only).  You might have to back clean a few pieces, but this rack will get you up the climb.

4/3  Having climbed Moonlight, we leave Zion.  We take a windshield tour of Bryce National Park (at 9000' there is still tons of snow on the trails).  Then we drive back to SLC.  We have dinner with Rebecca and Murtaza who live in Salt Lake now.  Haven't seen them for years!

4/4  Fly home to Ithaca.  And since I complain about the airlines in most of my trip reports, it is only fair to say that my travels both to and from SLC were smooth and uneventful this trip.

Guy, Keith and Josh on the approach to Medieval Chamber canyon. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Guy, Keith and Josh on the approach to Medieval Chamber canyon.    Moab, UT -- 3/14/2010

Photoshop drama. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Photoshop drama.    Moab, UT -- 3/14/2010

Full body stemming in the canyon. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Full body stemming in the canyon.    Moab, UT -- 3/14/2010

Josh (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Josh    Moab, UT -- 3/14/2010

Keith and Guy moving down the canyon. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Keith and Guy moving down the canyon.    Moab, UT -- 3/14/2010

Guy and the booty tent! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Guy and the booty tent! We would find two more tents in the Colorado River during the next two weeks, but none were in as good condition as this tent.    Moab, UT -- 3/14/2010

Clean bikes crammed into our van for transport to the Slickrock Trail. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Clean bikes crammed into our van for transport to the Slickrock Trail.    Moab, UT -- 3/15/2010

Starting out on the Slickrock Trail. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Starting out on the Slickrock Trail.    Moab, UT -- 3/15/2010

Keith (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Keith    Moab, UT -- 3/15/2010

Biking the Slickrock Trail. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Slickrock Trail.    Moab, UT -- 3/15/2010

Biking the Slickrock Trail. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Biking the Slickrock Trail.    Moab, UT -- 3/15/2010

My bike on the Klondike Bluffs trail. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

My bike on the Klondike Bluffs trail.    Moab, UT -- 3/15/2010

Dirty bikes crammed into our van for transport back to Poison Spider. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Dirty bikes crammed into our van for transport back to Poison Spider.    Moab, UT -- 3/15/2010

Josh leading Nervous in Suburbia. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Josh leading Nervous in Suburbia.    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/16/2010

Pretty mellow approach at Wall Street. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Pretty mellow approach at Wall Street.    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/16/2010

Pretty mellow approach at Wall Street. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Pretty mellow approach at Wall Street.    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/16/2010

Josh leading Steel Your Face. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Josh leading Steel Your Face.    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/16/2010

Keith broke a biner taking a long fall on some 5.11 climb. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Keith broke a biner taking a long fall on some 5.11 climb.    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/16/2010

Petroglyphs (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Petroglyphs    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/16/2010

Exploring the dinosaur footprints Total Recall style. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Exploring the dinosaur footprints Total Recall style.    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/16/2010

Josh, Keith and Guy reaching the base of Castleton just as the sun starts to lighten the sky. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Josh, Keith and Guy reaching the base of Castleton just as the sun starts to lighten the sky.    Castleton, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

Guy looking down at the squeeze chimney I very much wish we had avoided. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Guy looking down at the squeeze chimney I very much wish we had avoided.    Castleton, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

Guy leading p2 on Kor-Ingalls. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Guy leading p2 on Kor-Ingalls.    Castleton, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

Summit of Castleton. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Summit of Castleton.    Castleton, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

Castle Valley.  The Priest, The Sisters and The Rectory on the right side of the photo. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Castle Valley. The Priest, The Sisters and The Rectory on the right side of the photo.    Castleton, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

Beau! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Beau!    Castleton, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

Yuki was hanging out at the base of Ancient Art. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Yuki was hanging out at the base of Ancient Art.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

Josh on top of Ancient Art. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Josh on top of Ancient Art.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

Keith on top of Ancient Art. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Keith on top of Ancient Art.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

Guy on top of Ancient Art. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Guy on top of Ancient Art.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/17/2010

A beautiful morning in Indian Creek! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

A beautiful morning in Indian Creek!    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/18/2010

And I'm thrilled to be here. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

And I'm thrilled to be here.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/18/2010

Joe leading Way Rambo. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Joe leading Way Rambo.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/18/2010

Josh leading something wide. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Josh leading something wide.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/18/2010

peopleofwalmart.com (Category:  Rock Climbing)

peopleofwalmart.com    Salt Lake City, UT -- 3/20/2010

Clean Van Features: Satellite Radio, Automatic Doors (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Clean Van Features: Satellite Radio, Automatic Doors
Dirty Van Features: Big Dent
I swear it was there when we picked up the van!    Salt Lake City, UT -- 3/20/2010

Better late than never, J-Mo! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Better late than never, J-Mo!    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/21/2010

Before the first bolt on Nervous in Suburbia. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Before the first bolt on Nervous in Suburbia.    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/21/2010

Left to right: Nervous in Suburbia, Lucy in the Sky with Potash, 30 Seconds Over Potash. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Left to right: Nervous in Suburbia, Lucy in the Sky with Potash, 30 Seconds Over Potash.    Wall Street, Moab, UT -- 3/21/2010

Jon and Keith cleaning the anchor on Rochambeau. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Jon and Keith cleaning the anchor on Rochambeau.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

Josh leading Way Nutter. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Josh leading Way Nutter.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

Arielle (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Arielle    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

Josh and me (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Josh and me    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

Taped hands. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Taped hands.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

JMo on Way Nutter. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

JMo on Way Nutter.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

JMo on Way Nutter, laybacking the offwidth. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

JMo on Way Nutter, laybacking the offwidth.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

Perfect hands! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Perfect hands!    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

My second encounter with Keith Ladzinski? (Category:  Rock Climbing)

My second encounter with Keith Ladzinski?    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

Morri on Way Rambo. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Morri on Way Rambo.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

The class hiking out. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

The class hiking out.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/22/2010

Finished with the Medieval Chamber canyon. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Finished with the Medieval Chamber canyon.    Moab, UT -- 3/23/2010

Jon and Melissa after starting their one match fire. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Jon and Melissa after starting their one match fire.    Moab, UT -- 3/23/2010

JMo drying his shoes. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

JMo drying his shoes.    Moab, UT -- 3/23/2010

Everyone gathered around the campfire. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Everyone gathered around the campfire.    Moab, UT -- 3/23/2010

Roger (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Roger    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/24/2010

Colin (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Colin    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/24/2010

Colin (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Colin    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/24/2010

Generic Crack (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Generic Crack    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/24/2010

Incredible Hand Crack (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Incredible Hand Crack    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/24/2010

Dirty van crew! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Dirty van crew!    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/24/2010

Removing tape at the end of the day. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Removing tape at the end of the day.    Indian Creek, UT -- 3/24/2010

Castleton, The Rectory, The Sisters, and The Priest seen from Ancient Art at sunrise. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Castleton, The Rectory, The Sisters, and The Priest seen from Ancient Art at sunrise.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/25/2010

Melissa leading pitch 3 of Ancient Art. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Melissa leading pitch 3 of Ancient Art.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/25/2010

Most of the mank on Ancient Art has been replaced, but you still find old junk like this in a few places. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Most of the mank on Ancient Art has been replaced, but you still find old junk like this in a few places.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/25/2010

My fourth time on the top of Ancient Art. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

My fourth time on the top of Ancient Art.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/25/2010

Melissa at the third belay of Ancient Art, seen from the summit. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Melissa at the third belay of Ancient Art, seen from the summit.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/25/2010

Melissa with the classic pose on top of Ancient Art. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Melissa with the classic pose on top of Ancient Art.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/25/2010

And a close-up of the pose. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

And a close-up of the pose.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/25/2010

Taking pictures from the top. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Taking pictures from the top.    Fisher Towers, Moab, UT -- 3/25/2010

Jon, Colin, Melissa, Shay, Arielle, Dan, JMo and Roger.  The whole class in front of Delicate Arch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Jon, Colin, Melissa, Shay, Arielle, Dan, JMo and Roger. The whole class in front of Delicate Arch.    Arches National Park, Moab, UT -- 3/26/2010

My first view of Moonlight Buttress! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

My first view of Moonlight Buttress!    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Crossing the Virgin River.  I have no idea why I'm posing like this. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Crossing the Virgin River. I have no idea why I'm posing like this.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Starting up the approach pitch.  Just walk left... much easier. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Starting up the approach pitch. Just walk left... much easier.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Now I'm leading the first pitch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Now I'm leading the first pitch.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Leading the first pitch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Leading the first pitch.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Leading the first pitch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Leading the first pitch.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Leading the second pitch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Leading the second pitch. By the way, Bruce took all the excellent shots of us climbing Moonlight. He had a great vantage from down by the river, moving all the way back to the road as we got higher.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Tammy jugging the second pitch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy jugging the second pitch.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Tammy leading the third pitch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy leading the third pitch.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Me jugging the third pitch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Me jugging the third pitch.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Tammy on top of the rocker block.  Our high point for the first day of climbing. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy on top of the rocker block. Our high point for the first day of climbing.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/29/2010

Moonlight Buttress: Second day climbing.  Just finished jugging up to the rocker block. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Moonlight Buttress: Second day climbing. Just finished jugging up to the rocker block.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Starting my lead of pitch four. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Starting my lead of pitch four.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

I'm leading pitch four of Moonlight Buttress.  Best pitch ever! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

I'm leading pitch four of Moonlight Buttress. Best pitch ever!    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Leading pitch four.  I've just reached the intermediate belay and am about to start the overhanging section. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Leading pitch four. I've just reached the intermediate belay and am about to start the overhanging section.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Looking down at the awesomeness of pitch four! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Looking down at the awesomeness of pitch four!    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

That is a stellar pitch! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

That is a stellar pitch!    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Tammy jugging pitch four. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy jugging pitch four.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

I had lots of time to get the gear organized. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

I had lots of time to get the gear organized. Look at that... our one red alien made it to the belay. I placed it a few times, but would always back clean the cam because it is so useful.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Tammy reaching the fourth belay. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy reaching the fourth belay.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

I'm starting up the fifth pitch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

I'm starting up the fifth pitch.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Getting swallowed by the chimney at the start of the fifth pitch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Getting swallowed by the chimney at the start of the fifth pitch.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

A panorama I took across the valley while hanging out at the fifth belay. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

A panorama I took across the valley while hanging out at the fifth belay. Spaceshot runs up the left side of the tallest arch in the left third of the picture.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Tammy reaching the fifth belay. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy reaching the fifth belay.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Simulrappelling (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Simulrappelling    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Tammy crossing the Virgin River. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy crossing the Virgin River.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Crossing the Virgin River.  I realize I appear to be slumped in defeat, but I'm just trying to keep my pants from getting wet. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Crossing the Virgin River. I realize I appear to be slumped in defeat, but I'm just trying to keep my pants from getting wet.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

My poor Bbee got shredded in the chimney. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

My poor Bbee got shredded in the chimney.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/30/2010

Too bad I shaved the handlebars and was regrowing the full beard. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Too bad I shaved the handlebars and was regrowing the full beard.    Zion National Park, UT -- 3/31/2010

Tourist warning for Angel's Landing. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tourist warning for Angel's Landing.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

Quite a bit of snow the night before. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Quite a bit of snow the night before.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

More snow. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

More snow.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

Prickly pear cactus and snow. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Prickly pear cactus and snow.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

Moonlight Buttress viewed from Angel's Landing. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Moonlight Buttress viewed from Angel's Landing.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

Huge panorama of Moonlight Buttress. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Huge panorama of Moonlight Buttress. Starting around pitch five, most of the climb is just beyond what we can see from this viewpoint.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

Me looking at Moonlight Buttress. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Me looking at Moonlight Buttress.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

This is what the Angel's Landing trail looks like.  Large chains, chopped steps, and never less than five feet wide. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

This is what the Angel's Landing trail looks like. Large chains, chopped steps, and never less than five feet wide.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

Look who I ran into!  Becca was in Zion with some friends for a week. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Look who I ran into! Becca was in Zion with some friends for a week.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

Some wildlife. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Some wildlife.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/1/2010

Just rappelled to the fifth belay. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Just rappelled to the fifth belay.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

Tammy leading pitch six just as the sun reaches her at 9am sharp. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy leading pitch six just as the sun reaches her at 9am sharp.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

Bruce's view at 9am just as the sun hits Tammy. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Bruce's view at 9am just as the sun hits Tammy.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

Tammy leading pitch six. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy leading pitch six.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

Jugging pitch six. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Jugging pitch six.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

Leading pitch seven. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Leading pitch seven.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

Tammy jugging pitch seven. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy jugging pitch seven.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

The neatly organized seventh belay. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

The neatly organized seventh belay.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

Tammy starting up pitch eight. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy starting up pitch eight.    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

Tammy reaching the top of Moonlight Buttress! (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Tammy reaching the top of Moonlight Buttress!    Zion National Park, UT -- 4/2/2010

"A hell of a place to lose a cow." -- Ebenezer Bryce, nineteenth century Mormon settler    Bryce Canyon National Park, UT -- 4/3/2010

Sandstone arch. (Category:  Rock Climbing)

Sandstone arch.    Bryce Canyon National Park, UT -- 4/3/2010